The Walker (行者)

About the film

The deep rumble of drums opens the gate to the underworld and Sea Goddess Mazu gracefully leads the spirits towards it. A scene from the ritualistic dance piece Miroirs de Vie (2006), created by internationally renowned choreographer LIN Lee-Chen and performed by her Legend Lin Dance Theatre. LIN has devoted her life to creating work that blends modern dance with religious ritual. Drawing from her own life, LIN turns her outlook into a calming physical strength in her choreography, giving the audience a chance to glimpse her inner strength and creativity.

Filmed over the course of ten years, this documentary is a poetic expression of the persistence and creativity of LIN Lee-Chen, capturing the internationally renowned choreographer’s meditations on life itself. Exquisite images of layered cloth and the contours of dancers’ bodies during the ritualistic performances enable the audience to explore the choreography with a tactile eye, while LIN reflects on her attitudes towards dance and aesthetics. Unlike much Western dance that emphasizes speed, LIN’s oriental aesthetic emphasizes the slowness of body movement and a reflexivity towards slowness itself.

Photo by 金成財